New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-27
DEBATING THE DIPLOMATIC BILL
SENATOR PLUMB OF KANSAS VIGOROUSLY ATTACKS

THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20 (SreeiaD-The Senate to-day
passed the Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation bill
after having rectied the mistakes by Chairman Bel
mont OF the House Committee and by the House ITSELF
which had naltreaed the bill and virtually threatened
o the Consular Service In the debate senator
Salisbury of Delaware either wifuy inadvertently
exposed The Of the State Department by
Secretary Bayard TO energetic attack by senator
Plumb of Kansas. The Kansas Senator ud not weary
the Senate 10y speech which was longer IMAM " was
willing to listen to- In succession he had The venerable
Delaware and both The South Carolina Senators
on thsr explan and defend and apologize for
some of the appointments made by Mr. Bayard.
Mr. Hale IA member Of the Appropriations Con mttee)
said that committee had stryen TO rescue the Con-
sular and Diplomatic Service Of the country from the
torn and mangled condition In which the HOUSE hill had
of the American continent with complications constantly
arising ont of the Isthnas trapsitrnthessy struck out
Cairo reduced, pruned, not limited but des-
tUyed; also the great Eastern consnlates kanagawa
and Hong Kong two OF the most important cons,ilates
left OF the bill also the consulate at Halifax left out
altogether also the consulate at the City OF Mexico The
omissions made clearly in the BELIEF ana convic
that the wonid supplement the action of the
House and would insert the things left on, and them at
from Maine to California rung the charges OF
Republican extravagance in increasing The appropria
tios AIDE by the Democratic House OF Representatives
The tune would when that thing would cease The
time would when. II the other body saw It, ny dc.
ana ana ia and to ,ars and prne and
manre the appropriation bills the Senate would feel
Obliged TO give the House. as Senator Plat had sug
gested n dose OF its medicine.
Mr.. Plumb, a member OF the Appropriations Coinint
tee, spoke the Consular aud Diplcinnuc service AZ
hein In pretty bad conditions and said that he had his
doubts the proprety OF keeping up the diplomatic
om Of Wings could be carried on directy between the
Departments OF Governments without the lnerve
ton Of an American Minister at any foreign court:
But the Consular Service was an Important thrg lie
tholst that the service under The present Admins,
tration the IT had been The incoming or
Democratic Administration had brought from the lui
Der garnet great mass OF people whose existence before
that ad not been known They had come forward Win
petitions aud applications FOR Office IL would not nave
doue 10 give them appointments at home where Their
odor would have been offensive 10 the people, and 80 they
have been sent abroad
Mr.. Butte asked Mr. Plumb 70 particularizc.
Mr. Pumb-Do you wish me to specify nainesf
Mr. BUTTERFLIES III, ,..
Mr. Pumb-Does the Senator want t. pillory here ein-
Mr. Butler think the Senator it himself, the
Senate and the state Department To "pllory some
body rather than III .ke these general accusations
Mr. Plumb admit the right of the Senator TO repre-
vi uals have been taken out OF nered ohscurity
and brought III the sunlight OF publicity Dy being pun
spcuously unfit. deny his right 10 represent them
SIR Hampton related an incident of Hepnbl, an sec
Rotary who when asked why he did not MI Ger
important places sand he had great tiihcnliy III nun
there We're q good many gentlemen qualified 10 MI them.
SAID. Yes hut unfortunately inoy are all IN the Demo
cratic party"
Mr. Plumb expressed his surprise tina, the Senator from
South Carolina Mr. Hampton WAS unable To appreciate
nrcical anything that conid appeal more strongly even
the end man OF minstrel troupe than remark OF
that kind ..,. .,
MIR Butler asked him how many Republicans still neld
Office in the onsular aud Diplomatic service.
Mr. Plumb said he WAS nOt uunindluI oI inc la't tht
the President had difficulty M getting comrtet men ia
the democratic party aud had consequently iei Eeu"
cans IN office. .
Mr. Butler remarked that such fippani style
might very well for the husligs. Int c dd not uIhh
II suitable for the Senate Of the United states
MIR Plumb invited Mr. Butler TO send lin WHAT ne con-
siGered "A rood model
Mr.. Butler said he would 10 80 II the Senator would
promise follow il; but he feared he would nOt 90 80
as he thought lie not capable OF dong ~
Al another Stage of tile lin Mr Plumb spoke ~ terms
OF ridiculc of the Minister AZ London n ~ i'
pfederessor Mr. Lowell he said, more proud o be
Ing a citizen OF the Republic of Letters Than oi the Re
public OF the United States Until some American enef
prise was gnt into the Consular and diplomatic service
il was lust well Ia leave 1t Ia its present Ilt II not
disgrace, was all events. no credit To The American
people
MIR can do not know whether the American Minister
10 London wore short the senator had sug
ges'ed) aud material whether he ala OF not
Ar Morrill, defended Mr.. Pbcl pr rs an sbIh nhh
Mr. Plumb remarked that he had not shid nSthlhg
impugnng the ability the present Minister Ia Ebeand
Bui be Was informed and believed that that gentleman
neglected babtualy aud sysienaticIlly bis dulles as
convenience and the Interests " American citizens.
lie WAS informed ana he believed that the Amer
lean Minister practically "toady 10 Use hilush
sri-t,cracy" There Oughs to he something OF w"
dignity citizenship observe Ell ny the MINI
Ter Ia England. In his Judgment neither Mr IhePs O
Mr. Lowell should ever have represented Tue uhl'eh
states abroad. He would say that II was disgrace
say that IL great misfortune, which oght 10 DC ie-
,aircd n the reuoXa % Minister.